In brief: EMAS ("gold" in Malay) stands for Eco Mobility Advanced Solution and the platform for range-extended electrics was showcased at the Geneva Motor Show with concepts for three vehicles.

Vehicle in the news

Make/Model: EMAS PlatformManufacturer: Proton

The word

The Malaysian manufacturer bases its EMAS platform on a simple and effective range-extension drivetrain deveoped by Lotus Engineering and utilizing the 3-cylinder 1.2L tri-fuel engine. The little engine puts out 51hp at 3500rpms and runs on gasoline, methanol or natural gas.

The cars Proton plans for this basic platform will use a 370V pack of lithium-ion batteries totaling 11.47kWh, which the engine acts as a generator to recharge. A rear-mounted drive motor finishes off the drive train with a 45kW (75kW peak) output at 240Nm (177lb-ft) of torque. This moves the cars at up to 170km/h (106mph) with 0-62mph speeds starting at 14 seconds and going up depending on the model (due to size).

The four models are:

a 5-door, four-seat hatchback ("EMAS"),

a 3-door, five-seat hatchback ("EMAS Country"),

and a 3-door, 3+1 seat (EMAS3).

Proton's design for all three vehicles has a higher profile than expected because of the raised floors to accommodate the batteries, making them easier to get in and out of than most compacts.

A full-electric EMAS3 could be possible, the company says, and may be in development in the future.

And so ...

No time frame for production was given, but the designs are still in an early phase.

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